I didn't need to go to the Artic Circle to test drive the new Toyota Hilux as the weather provided snowy and frosty road conditions right here at home when I had the Toyota Hilux on test. We rarely get the opportunity to use the full 4x4 system when driving on Irish roads but I had the good luck to have the system on tap when I needed it. And I did, as road conditions were poor and dangerous in the early days of this year.

The Hilux coped well with the artic conditions but I could have done with a bigger load on the rear end for peace of mind. With some gentle driving along the narrow roads, we got through the snow packed icy road conditions without visiting the ditches head-on.

In any corner, the Toyota Hilux is one of the most durable machines on the market. It has been the 4x4 of choice during many recent foreign wars. It has survived a Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear wrecking attempt, followed by an Artic tour to confirm it’s ranking as one of the toughest and most durable vehicles on the planet.

My test Hilux was the 3.0 litre engine version with a spacious double cab format in a standard specification. The first impression is the strong new front-end styling. This gives the Hilux 2010 a more American look that indicates a more modern styling image.

In performance terms, this new Hilux comes with more power and torque than in the past. The low-end torque kept it steady on the snow-covered roads. Once out on the clean national roads and motorways, the Hilux could perform and deliver acceleration power with ease.

The new improved engine gives a five per cent improvement in power compared with the previous engine in the Hilux. The torque output is much higher and kicks in from a low 1400 rpm on the engine. That allowed for smooth acceleration when it loaded up.

Despite more power, there is little in terms of better acceleration from the new Hilux. The 0 to 100km/hr rating is 12 seconds. That's good for a big machine such as the Hilux, but still a shade below the performance of the main competition, the Nissan Navara.

From my research, the Navara retains a lead in terms of engine torque. More importantly, the new Hilux can deliver its best at lower engine revs. That feature is important for Hilux owners who pull trailers.

What's more significant is that Toyota has improved the economy rating of the Hilux. The engine has been re-tuned so the economy figure improved marginally to 8.3 litres/100km (34mpg). This makes the Hilux the most economical 4x4 pick-up on the market.